Pit bull bites girl, 3, in the face at Port Richey home

PORT RICHEY — A 3-year-old girl was seriously injured Wednesday evening when the family pit bull bit her in the face.

The child was lying on the couch at 7410 Buchanan Drive, having some food, when the dog tried to take some of the food, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office said. The dog bit the girl's lip, and a family member had to pull the dog off the child, authorities said.

Authorities were called at 5:45 p.m. and an ambulance took the girl to St. Joseph's Children's Hospital of Tampa. The dog was quarantined in a bedroom until Pasco County Animal Services could remove it.

The girl's name has not been released. Deputies have classified the incident as accidental.